Affinity (Shipping) managing partner Richard Fulford-Smith has countered talk that one of the company’s key recent LNG appointees has left the company.
Following an avalanche of persistent rumour and counter-rumour over the past three months, Fulford-Smith says Lawrence Noto, 44, remains in the employment of shipbroker Affinity.
But the company's chief adds that Noto has been granted leave of absence until the end of September on personal grounds.
Fulford-Smith slammed talk of a walkout by Noto, saying he is continuing to work on a number of files for Affinity.
Noto joined the broker at the end of February 2016 following a dramatic departure from his long-time former employer, US broker Poten & Partners, where he had risen to head the commercial LNG team after more than 20 years with the company. He worked under a non-compete clause at Affinity for the following six months.
His arrival at the London shop’s headquarters came after five of his former LNG colleagues from Poten jumped ship to Affinity ahead of him, boosting the company’s LNG team to 11 in what was then a very weak market. One has since left to join Flex LNG.
Noto says Affinity had been "very supportive" of him taking a break. Fulford-Smith refused to be drawn on who is now heading the LNG team at Affinity.
He said Joni Mackay and James Palairet remain focused on the spot and term LNG shipping business, with a new hire joining them shortly. Well-known LNG broker Christopher Bergsland stepped down from working on this business for the company in June and is understood to be pursuing other LNG interests.
In addition, Mats Fagerberg and Petter Arentz, assisted by Jonathan Gaylor, are grouped as the Affinity Energy Infrastructure team, with a special focus on small-scale LNG.
Niccolo Uzielli, Ivo Depping and Paulo Ghidini lend support to LNG on analytics, evaluations and finance, along with Affinity’s newbuilding team.
